Editing Rush Limbaugh (section)

===2000s===
Limbaugh had publicized personal difficulties in the 2000s. In late 2001, he acknowledged that he had become almost completely deaf, although he continued his show. He was able to regain much of his hearing with the help of a [[cochlear implants|cochlear implant]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Limbaugh Receives Cochlear Implant|first=Susan|last=Boswell|date=December 15, 2018|journal=The ASHA Leader|volume=7 |pages=1–21 |doi=10.1044/leader.ftr2.07012002.1 |url=https://leader.pubs.asha.org/doi/10.1044/leader.FTR2.07012002.1 | issn = 1085-9586}}</ref><ref>https://huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5207860{{dead link|date=February 2021}}</ref>

In 2003, Limbaugh had a brief stint as a [[American football|professional football]] commentator with [[ESPN]]. He resigned a few weeks into the [[2003 NFL season]] after making comments about the press coverage for [[quarterback]] [[Donovan McNabb]] that caused controversy and accusations of [[racism]] on the part of Limbaugh. His comment about McNabb was:

<blockquote>I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the [[NFL]]. I think the media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. They're interested in black coaches and black quarterbacks doing well. I think there's a little hope invested in McNabb and he got a lot of credit for the performance of his team that he really didn't deserve. The defense carried this team.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Was Limbaugh Right to Resign from ESPN? |url=http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,493270,00.html |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=October 6, 2003 |access-date=September 22, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130827034051/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,493270,00.html}}</ref></blockquote>

The sportswriter [[Peter King (sportswriter)|Peter King]] construed the comment as "boneheaded".<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/peter_king/09/30/mcnabb_limbaugh/ |title=Open mouth, insert foot, Limbaugh's comments on McNabb aren't racist, but they are boneheaded |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |first=King |last=Peter |author-link=Peter King (sportswriter) |date=September 30, 2003 |access-date=March 14, 2009 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-date=February 6, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206144610/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/peter_king/09/30/mcnabb_limbaugh/ }}</ref> The sports analyst [[Allen Barra]] wrote Limbaugh's viewpoint was shared by "many football fans and analysts" and "it is{{nbsp}}... absurd to say that the sports media haven't overrated Donovan McNabb because he's black".<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Barra |first=Allen |author-link=Allen Barra |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2089193/ |title=Rush was Right |magazine=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=October 2, 2003 |access-date=October 10, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 16, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091016082346/http://www.slate.com/id/2089193}}</ref>
[[File:Rush Limbaugh.jpg|thumb|upright|Limbaugh in 2006]]

In 2003, Limbaugh stated that he was addicted to pain medication, and sought treatment.<ref name=CNN2003>{{cite news |title=Limbaugh admits addiction to pain medication |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/ |newspaper=[[CNN]]|date=October 10, 2003 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217050248/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/10/10/rush.limbaugh/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In April 2006, Limbaugh turned himself in to authorities, on a warrant issued by the [[Palm Beach County, Florida|Palm Beach County]] [[State's attorney|state attorney]]'s office, and was arrested "on a single charge of prescription fraud".<ref>{{cite news |title=Rush Limbaugh Turns Himself In On Fraud Charge In Rx Drug Probe |author=Peter Whoriskey |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801692.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=April 29, 2006 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026055232/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801692.html |url-status=live }}</ref> His record was later [[Expungement|expunged]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Rush Limbaugh, conservative radio host, rushed to Hawaiian hospital with chest pains: report |author=Dave Goldiner |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rush-limbaugh-conservative-radio-host-rushed-hawaiian-hospital-chest-pains-report-article-1.437568 |newspaper=[[New York Daily News]] |date=December 31, 2009 |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-date=June 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603031604/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/rush-limbaugh-conservative-radio-host-rushed-hawaiian-hospital-chest-pains-report-article-1.437568 |url-status=live }}</ref>